“I don’t know how to explain it, other than being around him daily for the last few years, but it seemed like he gave up awfully fast.”
“He found out the hard way that he couldn’t stand up to a group of Dominant men. His own exaggerated self-worth finally tripped him up. Preston’s a coward, dearest Kenneth. He used your willingness to be submissive to him as a weapon against you. He wasn’t able to pull that same crap on a room full of Masters, so he fled.”
“Okay, thank you, Sir. I don’t want to spend all my time worrying about him. I just want to enjoy it with you.”
Saul smiled against Kenneth’s head. “This is nice.”
“Yes, Sir. Thank you for holding me.”
“I should be the one to thank you.” Saul jostled him. “Don’t protest, boy. I’ve been without a partner for many years and I’ve never had the privilege to have one live with me. I’m a very lucky man.”
Kenneth squeezed him. “Can I have a kiss again?”
Saul drew his head back and Kenneth tilted his chin up. This time when Kenneth parted for him, he accepted the offering of his mouth. Plunging in with his tongue, he tasted Kenneth for the first time. He was sweet and hot and everything Saul had hoped for. He delved deeper until their teeth clacked together, Kenneth’s lips smashed against his. He was so fucking hard, leaking in his under shorts, but he didn’t want to stop.
He groaned in frustration at the knock on the study door. When he peered down at Kenneth, he couldn’t help but grin at the sight. His eyes were hooded, pupils wide open to highlight the amber in his eyes, his lips swollen and moist. Saul would have given anything to throw him over the couch and bury his cock in Kenneth’s perfect round ass, right then and there.
Another knock sounded. “Saul, are you still in there?”
For someone who’d been adamantly encouraging him to seek the comfort of another man’s arms for quite a while, Aaron had certainly proved himself capable of interrupting him and Kenneth.
“Come in, old sport.”
He kept one arm wrapped around Kenneth’s shoulders and he noted Aaron’s bemused expression as he strolled in from the hall.
Aaron coughed into his fist. “Thought I’d fill you in on things. Thomas left a short while ago and I’ve verified that Javier has drinks pouring freely in the ballroom.”
“Excellent. As soon as the boys arrive, I’ll get Kenneth settled then we can join the others.”
There was a questioning look on Aaron’s face. Saul could tell he was struggling with something in his mind and no doubt concerned about bringing it up in front of Kenneth.
“What is it? I can see you have something on your mind.”
“I thought you might need to get Kenneth situated rather soon. Otis and the others are expecting you to show up with the owner of Hampton Road in a short while.”
“No worries, old sport. I’ll make sure everything goes off without a hitch.”
Aaron considered him as if he were a deep mystery. Saul had always known that protecting the owner’s identity would catch up to him eventually. He wasn’t thrilled that his hand was being forced on the matter, but there was nothing for it. It was time.
“I don’t want to be a problem for you, Sir. I could…” Kenneth bit his lip as he furrowed his brow.
Saul knew that Kenneth wasn’t ready to be left alone or with anyone he wasn’t very comfortable with quite yet. He was trying so hard to be brave and it tugged at Saul’s heart.
“You’re not a problem. Everything’s been worked out.” Saul couldn’t stay in the study any longer. It was time to get things rolling. “I’ll tell you what. Let’s go to the room where you’ll be socializing with Linus and your friends, and I’ll wait with you there until they arrive.” Saul fingered the collar around Kenneth’s neck. “I’d also like to get this awful thing off of you, as well as that harness and restraint you’re wearing.” Kenneth’s cheeks flushed pink. “Then you can get dressed.” Saul pondered what else might ease the stress of waiting. “I’ll also see if we can get Michael to rustle up some cheese, bread and maybe some fruit from the kitchen.”
Aaron shook his head slightly, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. He knew his friend had to be wondering what Saul was really up to, and he felt bad that he’d never been at liberty to confide in him. Even Vincent hadn’t known who the owner of Hampton Road was. Saul had been faithful in his silence.
After ridding Kenneth of the accessories Preston had made him wear, Saul handed him the clothes that had been retrieved by Javier. As he waited for Kenneth, Saul unlocked the desk drawer, locating some documents he wanted to bring to the ballroom. Once Kenneth was dressed, they left the study, Aaron agreeing to meet with Saul downstairs.
By the time Saul had taken Kenneth to the room and ordered some food and seltzer waters, Sam, Francesco and Linus had arrived. It had been very sweet to watch as Linus had thrown himself in Kenneth’s arms, crying. Although initially surprised, Kenneth had hugged him back, reassuring him that everything was okay. It was good to see Kenneth in the role of comforter. Saul hoped to encourage him to explore all aspects of his personality. He had no interest in holding Kenneth back from reaching his full potential as a person—whatever form that might take.
“I have to meet with the members now.”
Kenneth rose from the long sofa where he and Linus had been sitting. Sam and Francesco had been on the floor at their feet, listening to Linus as he poured out his thanks to Kenneth. Saul intertwined their fingers and gently tugged on him as he walked to the door. He spoke so that only Kenneth could hear.
“I don’t anticipate being very long. If things seem as if they might take a while to wrap up, I’ll send someone to let you know.” Saul framed Kenneth’s face with his hands. “You can still go back to Aaron and Sam’s guesthouse if you like. I won’t be upset. I’ll understand if you need some time on your own first.”
Almost immediately, Saul could sense Kenneth’s agitation.
“I would only go if that’s what you wanted. If you made me.”
Saul pursed his lips, frustrated at Kenneth’s words. “I won’t ever
make
you do anything. It will always be your choice, even when I explore how far I can push you. What are you to say to me if you don’t like anything I’m doing or that’s being done to you?”
“Mercy, Sir.”
“Very good. Are you calling mercy on me sending you to the guesthouse instead of coming to stay with me?”
There was a slight quirk at the corner of Kenneth’s mouth. It was a relief to know that Preston hadn’t completely destroyed Kenneth’s sense of humor.
“Yes, Sir.” He said it with gusto. “I’m calling mercy.”
Saul planted a lusty kiss on Kenneth’s lips. “Good. I didn’t want you to be anywhere but with me anyway, so that worked out.”
Kenneth’s smile was wide and lit up his eyes. Saul broke into a grin of his own. It was the second time since he’d known Kenneth that he’d seen him smile. What was sad was that both of the times had occurred on the same day and only after he’d been freed from the animal who’d held him like a prisoner for so long.
“I’ll be back for you soon.”
“I’ll be anxiously waiting, Sir.”
After a final peck on Kenneth’s lips, Saul left him with the other boys, confident that they would keep him distracted. He hurried down to the second floor then caught up to Aaron. He was waiting for Saul outside the ballroom.
“Time to face the music as they say, old sport.”
“Indeed. However, I wish you would clue me in on what shenanigans you’re up to.”
“Shenanigans? Me?” Saul mock gasped. “When have you ever known me to pull a fast one on anyone?”
Aaron laughed. “I’m sure Sam’s father could think of one or two instances.”
Saul and Aaron, along with their other friends, had cooked up a grand scheme to get Sam away from his bully of a father.
“I thought that worked out quite well, didn’t you?”
Aaron regarded him with more seriousness. “We’ll forever be grateful.”
“As I am to you for tonight. For Kenneth.”
Aaron patted his arm gently. “We’re here to watch out for one another, right?”
Yes. That was the whole point. That’s what Hampton Road has always been about.
With renewed purpose, Saul pushed open the large glass doors of the ballroom. “Gentlemen, are we ready to begin?”
The room quieted as Saul and Aaron entered. He could sense the nervousness emanating from Aaron since there wasn’t an owner in evidence the way Saul had promised. Saul only hoped that his friends wouldn’t be too angry with him.
As Saul anticipated, Otis was the first to speak up.
“I knew it. You’re nothing but a trickster.”
It was interesting to note that of the couple of dozen men in attendance, there were but a few gathered around Otis. His supporters appeared to have dwindled.
“Well, old sport. I can’t completely dispute your claim.”
Low chatter picked up throughout the room and Saul saw the concerned looks on his friend’s faces.
“So you admit it,” Otis continued. “You’ve probably been lying to the owner this whole time, fooling him, controlling him the way you controlled Preston’s boy to get what you want.” Otis’ compatriots nodded, anger clear in their expressions. “For all we know”—Otis gestured wildly about the room—“you have him drugged in the house somewhere to keep him docile.”
Saul burst out laughing. It wasn’t the most appropriate response under the tense circumstances, but he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so stressed. He had to at least let some of it go.
“I assure you, Otis, gentlemen, it’s nothing quite that sinister.
I’m
the owner of Hampton Road.”
Chapter Nine
The shouting was so overwhelming, it was impossible to discern what was being said. Saul glanced at Aaron to get his reaction. His eyes were wide and he appeared stunned. Saul leaned in to him to be heard above the chaos.
“Please accept my apologies, old sport. I had what I believed to be very good reasons. As you can imagine, my life won’t ever be the same, but I fear more that Hampton Road won’t be either.”
Aaron seemed to snap out of his trance. “I’m anxious to talk about this more with you, as I’m sure you can imagine, but you haven’t lost my support. Hampton Road has been a sanctuary to me and you’ve always been a good friend. I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
His emotions had been on the surface more than he could remember them being in a very long while. But the unusual circumstances surrounding him for the past couple of months had changed everything.
Saul clasped a hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “That means more to me than you can possibly know.”
Otis shouted above the din. “You don’t expect us to actually believe that claptrap, do you?”
Otis was red in the face, his fists clenched at his sides. It occurred to Saul that the whole incident with Preston had inadvertently separated the wheat from the chaff. If the club was to persevere with gentlemen who respected one another and whose main concern was to protect Hampton Road from those who sought to tear it down, then revealing his identity would have been worth it.
“It’s quite understandable that you would have your doubts, old sport, so I took a moment earlier when I was in the study to retrieve the deed so that you might see the truth of the matter. I have it here for your perusal.”
Saul reached into the inner pocket of his suit coat and pulled out the document. After unfolding it, he walked over to the counter of the bar then laid it down. He stepped back to give everyone room to look at it. As he moved out of the way, he caught Javier’s eye. There was a quirk at the corner of his mouth. Saul had told no one, but he’d always suspected that Javier knew.
Several men strolled over to see the official paper. Otis and his few cronies were not among them. Saul could already guess where things were going, and he was fine with it. Even though he stood by his original decision of keeping his identity a secret, he was confident that his friends—as well as the men who only wished to have a safe place to indulge in their desires—would stand by him.
Thomas, Theodore and Barry wandered over, but they didn’t look at the deed. They came to his side, and along with Aaron, reiterated that they would stand by him, and the club.
Damn emotions.
He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “Well, gentlemen. We still have the matter of nominations to contend with.”
Otis guffawed. “Do you believe this lunatic? Nominations! For all we know, this document is a forgery. You still haven’t explained why you’ve kept this big secret of you supposedly being the owner of Hampton Club this whole time.”
“It’s not that difficult to understand. I never meant for this to be a venture that I dictated—which is the same reason we’ve never had a board president. If anyone had known that I was the owner and sole founder, it would have always skewed things in my favor. The natural human tendency to pander to me would have been there and I never sought out that type of situation. I’d always dreamed of a place such as this in my younger years. Once the profits from my real estate deals allowed me the luxury of purchasing Hampton Road, I set about making my youthful dreams come true. For over a decade now, men have been able to pursue their passions at this club without the threat of recrimination or fear.” Saul paused to glance around the room, locking eyes with those who didn’t look away. “I hope that will continue.”
Aaron clapped, alone at first, but soon others joined in the applause. Saul resisted the urge to wince in discomfort. He was sure they were only showing their support for his words. But for the same reasons he’d just recited, he didn’t want things to change in terms of how people perceived him. It couldn’t be avoided to a degree, yet he held onto the hope that at the very least, his friends wouldn’t change in their attitude toward him.
Otis and his supporters stood defiant, but they seemed to realize that they’d become the outsiders. They simply glared Saul’s way then turned, marching out in unison. Aaron called out after them.
“Remember gentlemen, we have your—”
“Files! We’re aware.” Otis had growled it out behind him as they’d continued out of the ballroom.